Isacson earns trust at Quarles & Brady as ‘truth-teller’

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Bob Isacson’s decade-plus experience as office administrator at Quarles & Brady in Milwaukee was more essential than ever last spring.

Isacson helped the firm work through the coronavirus pandemic, which forced nearly all of his fellow employees to stay at home.

“Once 90 percent of the office was set up remotely, there were around 30 of us that have been here just about every day since mid-March, acting as the boots on the ground and learning new tasks that were never part of their job description,” Isacson said. “It is still not over, but we have this remote-work model figured out pretty well now.”

Sean Scullen, Quarles & Brady labor counsel, said that Isacson has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep the office functioning.

“And then (he) ensured the office was as safe as possible upon our return,” Scullen added.

David Fleisher, chief operating officer of the firm, said Isacson was instrumental in making sure Quarles & Brady could continue to provide high-quality client services despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.

“Bob has to make and carry out difficult decisions, but also does so with compassion and a great attitude,” Fleisher said. “He is a true unsung hero.”

Kevin Long and Katya Zelenovskiy, both partners at the firm, said that one of Isacson’s best qualities is his ability to be a “truth-teller” throughout the organization.

“When lawyers are not as cognizant of the challenges being faced by our staff as they should be, or are causing problems — the severity of which they don’t realize — Bob doesn’t hesitate to call out the lawyers involved in an appropriate way, while helping us make the needed changes,” Long and Zelenovskiy said in a statement.

“For that reason, he has the ear, trust and confidence of virtually all our employees in Milwaukee.”

Isacson, for instance, has not hesitated to insist on the enforcement of the firm’s facemask policies. Staff members also often seek out Isacson to enforce company-wide policies.